Sundowned U.S. Clean Energy Policies Risk Losing Lead Over China

From 2012 – Bloomburg – The U.S. government is creating a“boom and bust” in renewable energy investment that threatens to undermine its lead over China, the Pew Charitable Trusts said in a report.

China’s goal of installing a total of 160 gigawatts of wind power and 50 gigawatts of solar power by 2020 is occurring at the same time, a production tax credit, (PTC) benefiting wind producers expires at the end of the year in the US. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow has been leading the charge to renew the PTC but recent votes have failed by the thin margin.

The United States could lose is dominance in wind industry and the loss of the PTC has prompted Vestas Wind Systems, the world’s largest wind turbine maker, to say 1,600 U.S. factory jobs are at risk. Duke Power has pulled the plug on a large wind farm in northern Michigan.